How to Choose and Use a Line Trimmer

For a nice and tidy yard, you’ll need to trim your edges and cut the grass and weeds around your trees, steps, and rocks. And since your mower probably can’t reach those places, you’ll be wanting a line trimmer to do the job. It’s an easy way to make your yard look great.

BATTERY VS PETROL VS CORDED

When you’re using a line trimmer you’ll be moving around a lot. You’ll be walking in and around trees and your house – so you’ll want a model that’s portable. That’s why petrol powered and battery options are more commonly used.

Petrol powered

• They’ll give you a good amount of power.
• They come in a variety of engine sizes. Smaller CC ratings suit lighter jobs like trimming grass. Higher CC ratings deliver more power, and are good for cutting through taller grasses, weeds, and scrub.
• If it is a 2-stroke engine, you’ll need to pre-mix the petrol with good quality 2-stroke oil.

Battery powered

• Battery powered models are portable.
• They’re generally lighter than petrol powered models.
• They’re quieter, they require less maintenance, and start up instantly.
• Batteries range from 18volt, which is fine for smaller yards and lighter work, up to 56volts, which is good for larger areas and more heavy-duty use.

Corded electric powered

• Corded options are handy if you have a really small lawn or patch of grass – for example in a town house courtyard.
• They’re lighter, and need very little maintenance.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT LINE TRIMMER

• When choosing a line trimmer, thinking about the size of your yard will help you narrow down the options. The larger your yard, the more heavy-duty model you may want.
• If you’re doing a lot of work for a longer time, look for a model with handle bars and a harness to take the load off.
• Now look at the line – you can get single line, or double line. Double line models can handle more growth.
• Look at how the line is fed out. There’s bump & feed and auto feed.
• With bump and feed, you just bump the head on your grass to spool more line out as it wears out. Auto feed releases more line when you pull the throttle.

TIP: Make sure you buy the right diameter line for your model. Line that’s too fat can slow the engine down, causing wear. So, check your manual to see what line your model takes. Change your line if the tool has been in storage for a long time, as the line can become brittle. Check your manual for specific instructions how to change the line – as this varies between models.

Main features

• Throttle – squeeze to make the engine go.
• Line - The nylon line spins around and cuts the grass.
• Safety guards - protect your feet.
• Line-limiting blades - chop the line to the right length if you spool too much out.
• Front handle – on some models this can be rotated so the line cuts vertically for cutting edging.
• Shoulder harness - help to ease the load. Good if you’re using it for extended periods.

Safety

• You’ll need Eye and ear protection.
• Gloves.
• Boots and long pants.
• If using corded model, use an RCD. A good tip is to put the cord over your shoulder when using it, so it doesn’t get in the way.
• Stay clear of any outdoor wiring or pipes.

USING YOUR LINE TRIMMER

• Get your height right, as you can easily strip your lawn bald if you’re too close to the surface.
• Sweep in a steady side to side motion, parallel to the ground.
• For taller grass, start high then move down, otherwise the line can wrap around thicker stems.
• To cut your edging flip the handle round, so the head is vertical, and track along your edge line.
• Don’t hit the base of and trees, as you can strip the bark and kill it. Same with fences, you can damage the posts or strip paint off. So pull it back if you hear the line slapping against it.
• Always clean the tool off after use.
• Some petrol models need to be stored upright so fluids don’t leak out.